Name this ship in 1 (or 2, or 3 : age dependant)

[naetype]

Passing the Crinnan canal this morning saw this in my periphery and nearly did a handbrake turn; so how many of you can recall this golden oldie:







BTW Sorry about the photo' quality but I only had my camera phone with me and really thought this was worth a post

Edited by naetype on Monday 7th January 20:39

[FM]

The legendary `Vital spark`.
Well spotted..I`d have never picked it out from afar...could do with a new lick of paint...

[rpa.janwell]

She's been there for a few years now - stayed at the Crinan Hotel some years back and she was there then. 6-7 years?

[dunc_sx]

Right over my head, anyone want to humour me and tell me what this is all about?

Dunc.

[Reidy10_0]

Is it the real thing or has someone named a rusty boat the vital spark?

[tvrgit]

dunc_sx said:

Right over my head, anyone want to humour me and tell me what this is all about?

Dunc.

Now if Dougie was here, he would tell you...

[deevlash]

Dan McPhail: "see this thing thats going up and down?"
Para Handy: "Aye"
Dan McPhail "Well it should be going round and round!"

Funniest comedy moment ever as far as Im concerned. Shame its looking so forlorn

[SportsLibre]

Classic 60s - 70s tv.

http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/vital/index.html 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/islandblogging/ibhq/0000000693.shtml 

please note
"There never has been a puffer called Vital Spark registered with the MCA, the puffers in question are both dressed for filming purposes. The Auld Reekie and the Vic32 are moored at Crinan. More puffer information can be found at www.inveraray.tv

Grant McArthur from Inveraray Maritime Museum"

[deevlash]

I found some of the original tv show, not the gregor fisher/ rikki fulton one http://youtube.com/watch?v=fa48WOgb3mI

[RDM]

Looks like Ardrishaig basin. Moored next to the "Spark" at Crinan basin
a few times before it moved to Inverary.

[naetype]

rpa.janwell said:

She's been there for a few years now - stayed at the Crinan Hotel some years back and she was there then. 6-7 years?

?!

I've been out that way fairly regular for pretty much the last 5 years and that's the first time I've seen it for sure. Maybe they moved it down BUT...

I spoke to the guy who was looking after it and some of the guys who I work for out that neck of the woods and they said it's only been there for a few weeks. I believe the plan was/is to start renovating/restoring it.

And this from Wikipedia (that accurate font of all knowledge ):

The Argyll brewer Fyne Ales, situated close to Inveraray, where the current boat rests and Neil Munro was born, produces a beer called Vital Spark[1] in tribute to the series.

In December 2007, the Vital Spark Clyde puffer returned to the Forth and Clyde Canal - the place of her 'birth', as reported on stv news'[2] Reporting Scotland.

Edited by naetype on Tuesday 8th January 15:51

[TVR MAN]

Yeah pretty sure that is Ardrishaig basin with the new houses in the background. I've never seen it anywhere other than Crinan though so I wonder why it's been moved? Hopefully it'll stay there and I'll get to see it most days as I'm only 14 miles away in Tarbert.

[Skyedriver]

Saw it mesel'wi me own eyes, at the Crinan Hotel "marina" a few years back took pics at the time.

[naetype]

TVR MAN said:

Yeah pretty sure that is Ardrishaig basin with the new houses in the background. I've never seen it anywhere other than Crinan though so I wonder why it's been moved? Hopefully it'll stay there and I'll get to see it most days as I'm only 14 miles away in Tarbert.

Sorry should have confirmed that and not made it appear so mysterious! It is indeed Ardrishaig, it's right down by the 1 way bridge - you really can't miss it. I'm heading out that way again tomorrow; would have been today but it's got a little blowy and they've shut the Erskine bridge and apparently the road was closed at Inveraray this morning. And the site's got no power anyway (along with about 20,000 other people according to some news reports).

And I've now just looked out the windows and it's started to snow

Edited by naetype on Wednesday 9th January 12:40

[stu_the_flat]

deevlash said:

Dan McPhail: "see this thing thats going up and down?"
Para Handy: "Aye"
Dan McPhail "Well it should be going round and round!"

Funniest comedy moment ever as far as Im concerned. Shame its looking so forlorn

You and your technical jargon!

[glazbagun]

Never seen much of the original. Is she genuine?

[Raffles]

naetype said:

TVR MAN said:

Yeah pretty sure that is Ardrishaig basin with the new houses in the background. I've never seen it anywhere other than Crinan though so I wonder why it's been moved? Hopefully it'll stay there and I'll get to see it most days as I'm only 14 miles away in Tarbert.

Sorry should have confirmed that and not made it appear so mysterious! It is indeed Ardrishaig, it's right down by the 1 way bridge - you really can't miss it. I'm heading out that way again tomorrow; would have been today but it's got a little blowy and they've shut the Erskine bridge and apparently the road was closed at Inveraray this morning. And the site's got no power anyway (along with about 20,000 other people according to some news reports).

And I've now just looked out the windows and it's started to snow

Where are you heading down that way? I'm from Kintyre. I have seen Vic 32 lots of times but have never seen the boat with Vital Spark written on the bow. I was aware that there never has been a boat actaully registered ith that name so I don't know what's going on with that boat. Vic 32 was the boat used in the TV series... Maybe I'm confused.

rpa.janwell said:

She's been there for a few years now - stayed at the Crinan Hotel some years back and she was there then. 6-7 years?

And they still haven't replaced the carpets

Next time your down our way stay in a quality establishment
www.dunvalanree.com

(I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your taste in hotels, the Crinan Hotel does have good food, just the building is a bit run down. From their prices and website you would expect to be staying in a pretty plush place. The fact they aren't part of the tourist board says it all really... What did you think of the place?)

[rpa.janwell]

rpa.janwell said:

She's been there for a few years now - stayed at the Crinan Hotel some years back and she was there then. 6-7 years?

And they still haven't replaced the carpets

Next time your down our way stay in a quality establishment
www.dunvalanree.com

(I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your taste in hotels, the Crinan Hotel does have good food, just the building is a bit run down. From their prices and website you would expect to be staying in a pretty plush place. The fact they aren't part of the tourist board says it all really... What did you think of the place?)

We had stayed at the Sheraton in Edinburgh the night before, and were heading up the coast and needed a pit stop for that night.
The brochure showed a plush well appointed hotel with very good food.
The plush was completely missing, and the service in the restaurant was unacceptable.

We will not be going back there again.

[Big Rod]

Funny, a mate of mine lives on the harbour in Irvine and there's a boat in 'dry dock' that he said was the Vital Spark.

Guess he must be wrong, unless it's one of the stunt boats!!